Circular-knitting machine.



No. 664,266. f Patented nec. la, |960.

u. HAnsAuGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1900.)

w l GD q w 'mz Nouns PEYzns' cui, Pumauwo., WASHINGTON, D4 c.

Pa'fented Dec. I8, |900.

H.- E. HARBAUGH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med occ. s, 1900.) (N o Il o d a l 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 664,266. Patented Dc. I8, |900; H. E. HARBAUGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Oct. 5, 1900.)

7. Sheets-Shaet 3.

(No Modal.)

Patented Dec. I8, |900.

H. HARBAUGH. CIRCUL'AR-KNITTING MACHINE.

' (Appuation med oct.- 5, 1900.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4A jtm: Norms vETEns co4. Pummumo.,WASHINGTON. o. c,

No. 664,266. Patented Dec. I8, |900.

H". E. HARBAUGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1900.)

(No Model.) 7 Sheeis-Sheet 5.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

Patented Dec. I8', |900.

No. A 664,266. n

H. E. HARBAUGH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

` (Application filed Oct. 5, 1900.) (No Model.)

www,

1HE veras op. mamma., wAsNmm'oN, nv c,

N6. 664,266. l Patented 066. la, |900.

. H. E. HAnBAuGH.

CIRCULAR KNIT'TING MACHINE.

- (Aplicmon mea oct. 5, 1900.) (No Mader.) 1 sheets-sheet 7.

vthe same.

UNITED STATES l ATENT 'l Ormes.

HOWARD E. HARBAUGH, OF KENOSI-IA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THECHICAGO-ROCKFORD I-IOSIERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 664,266, dated December18, 1900. f C Application filed October 5, 1900. Serial No. 32,197. (Nomodel.)

ment of that class of circular-knitting machines which are wellillustrated by the specification and drawings of Letters Patent of theUnited States No. 461,358, granted to the Sulloway Mills October 13,1891, to which reference is hereby made as fairly disclosing the stateof the art in thatlclass of knitting-machines on or about that date.

My invention consists of certain new and useful features of constructionand combinations of devices contrived and arranged to adaptknitting-machines of the class hereinbefore mentioned to knit wide anddeep heels.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figures 1, la, and 1b are top plan views of amachineembodying my improvements, some of the parts thereof being indifferent positions in each of the views. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe machine, a portion of the latch-v opening ringv of the same beingsectioned away, with the parts thereof in the positions shown in Fig.1a. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cam-cylinder thereof. Fig. 4 is aplan ofthe cam-cylinder. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the parts shownin Fig. 3. Fig. 6is an elevation of the interior of the cam-cylinder,half-size, developed on a plane. Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, are detailedtop, side, and face views, respectively, of the needle elevating anddepressing switch of the machine and a part of the mechanism foroperating Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, are detailed views of the needleelevatingand depressing switch and one of the devicesA for operating thesame, all of which will be fully described hereinafter. l view ofcertain needles having heels of different lengths. Fig. 15 is a detailedview of two alternately-acting cams.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

- A is a yneedlecylinder having nee'dle- 1 Fig. 14 is a top plan groovesa, therein containing needles d CL2 d3, provided with heels or* d5 a6. l

B is a cam-cylinder encircling `the needlecylinder A and providedinteriorly with a circumferential ledge Ba, upon which all the needlesof the machine rest while knitting round and round, and exteriorly witha bevelgear Bb. In the interior of the cam-cylinder B, above the ledgeBa, are guide-plates B2 B3, above and below which the heels a4 a5 a6 ofthe needles a' a2 d3 are carried as they are retired from and broughtback into action, while to the outside of said cylinder B and workingthrough slots B4, formed in the walls thereof, are pivoted elevators anddepressors B5 B6, by means whereof the needles concerned in the nairowing and widening operations are respectively carried out of orbrought back into action as one or the other of these operations isbeing eected. In their normal positions these elevators and depressorsrest with their free 4or hooked ends B7 B8 in line with the heels of theneedles in connection with which they are to coperate, and when carriedont of operation by the elevation or depression of such needles they areengaged by latches C, also pivoted tothe outside of the vcam-cylinder B,and by them prevented from' returning thereinto until again releasedaforesaid latches; but when one or the other of these operations is tobe accomplished either the elevators B5 or the depressors B6, or both,as the case may be, will be released from their latches C and allowed toreturn into action ready for engagement with their appropriate needlesas the cam-cylinder is reciprocated in the operation of the machine.

n In all cases when the narrowing of the fabric'is to be effected theelevators-alone will be released from their latches and returned intooperation. On the other hand, when the widening of the fabric is to beaccomplished the depressors will be released from vtheir latches andsimilarly returned into action, the elevators in some cases beingretired from operation when the depressors are brought IOO tiontherewith. When the elevators are retired from operation at the sametime that lhe depressors are brought into action, the hooks B8 of thedepressors will be made of the same length as the hooks B7 of theelevators and each will at each reciprocation of the cam-cylinder engagethe heel of but a single needle; but when both the elevators anddepressors are retained in action the hooks BB will be made of a lengthtoA engage the heels of two needles, while the hooks B7 will be made ofa length to engage the heel of but a single needle, whereby during thewidenin g operation the depressors wil-l at each reciprocation of thecam-cylinder bring down into operation two needles and the elevators atthe next reciprocation thereof carryone of the, needles thus broughtdown out of operation, and so on throughout the entire operation ofwidening.

In the drawings the hooks. BS are shown of a length to engage the heelsof two needles and the hooks B7 of a length to engage the heel of butasingle needle; but the hooks B8 may be so proportioned as to engage theheel of but a single needle, if so desired.

In addition to the long-heeled and shortheeled needles shown anddescribed in the specication and drawings of Lettersl Patent No.461,358, referred to hereinbefore, I ernploy two groups ofintermediate-heeled needles a2, located between the long-heeled andshortheeled needles. The intermediateheeled needles a2 coperate with therest of the needles of the machine to knit the legs and tubular parts ofthe feet ofthe stockings; but their particular function is to supplementthe short-heeled needles a and cooperate with them in knitting the heelsof stockings in order that such stocking-heels may be formed wider anddeeper than the toes thereof or of any desired width and depth Withinthe scope of the short-heeled needles a plus the intermediate-heeledneedles a3. The intermediate-heeled needles a5 are not employed inknitting the toes of stockings, the shortheeled needles a' being theonly ones employed for that purpose.

To provide for releasing the elevators B5 and depressors B6 at theproper times to effect the narrowing and widening operations, thelatches C are each equipped with a stud c, extending ontward therefrom,with which suitably-arranged cam-surfaces C2 C3, under the control of acam-controlling ring, cooperate. The cam-surfaces C2 C11 for acting uponthe .studs c, the pattern mechanism, and the devices made use of foroperating the cam-cylinder are or may be the same as the correspondingparts shown and described in an application for Letters Patent filed byWilliam H. Mayo and George D. Mayo October 3, 1888, Serial No. 287,063,to which reference may be had therefor.

Dis a recess formed in the interior of the cam-cylinder B. v

D2 is a switch consisting of any suitable body having formed in itsinner face a longitudinal groove D3, which, extendingthroughout itsentire length and tapering gradually from its outer and wider to itsinner and narrower end, has its under walls Dl1 cut away to such anextent as. topermit of their engagement, Fig. 8, with the long-heeledand intermediate-heeled needles only, while its upper walls D5 areextended inward toward the needle-cylinder A- suliciently to engage allthe needles of the machine. The switch D2, Fig. 13, is mounted in properrelation to the guideplates B2 B3 and in the recess D in the camcylinderB on the inner end of a rock-shaft D5, that is fitted both to oscillateand to slide endwise in a bearing D6 in the supportingbracket D7.

D8 is a semipinion mounted on and secured to the free end oftherock-shaft D5 by means of a feather D11 and spline D10.

D11 is a screw-stud provided with ahead D12, having a peripheral grooveD13 therein and turned into the longitudinal screw-hole D11 in therock-shaft D5.

D15, Fig. 2, is a rack mounted in the vertical slideway D1G in thebracket D7, provided with an actuating-stud D17 and meshing with thesemipinion D8.

D18 is a shifting-cam provided with oppositely-inclined faces D19 D20,engaging the opposite sides of the peripheral groove D18 and pivotallymounted on a bearing D21, Fig. 2 on the cam-cylinder B.

I do not desire or intend to limit myself to the particular form ofdevice just described for sliding the rock-shaft D5 endwise, asobviously other common and well-known devices could be substitutedtherefor without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

I will now describe the instrumentalities employed to operate the switchD2.

l is a ring fast to the base-plate (not shown) of the machine.

2 is a cam-controlling ring resting on the upper end of the base-ring 1,whereon it may be slightly turned back and forth. The ring 2 has thecams 2" 2b, stop 211, and lugs 2e 21 projecting from the upper facethereof.

3 and 4 are respectively downwardly and upwardly sloping cams fast tothe free and adjacent ends of the two arms 5 and 6, Fig. 2, which arealso provided with cam-surfaces 7 and 8 on their inner edges and mountedone above the other on the pivot 9.

10 is a lug fast to the free end of the arm 11, which is mounted by itsother end on the pivot 12.

13 is a stud supporting a spring 14, which normally holds the free endof the arm l1 into contact with said stud 13.

15 is a vertical rock-shaft provided with an arm 16, projectinghorizontally therefrom against the arm 11. The rock-shaft 15 is turnedat predetermined intervals by appropriate pattern mechanism (not shown)sunflciently to cause the free end of the arm 16 to IOO IIO

press the free end of the arm 11 inward [tha-n the t-oe of t-hestocking, the knitting of against the action of the spring 14 until thelug 10 is projected into the path of the lower end Y of the shifting-camD15. After the latter, acting through the rock-shaft D5, has moved theswitch D2 endwise from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown inFig. 7 the arm 16 is turned by said pattern mechanism out of engagementwith the arm 1l, which is then swung in the opposite direction,by theaction of the spring 14,over against the Stud 13, where it will remainuntil again pressed inward, as before, by the arm 16.

185is a stop-lever mounted near its central portion on a stationaryhorizontal pivot 19, supported by the Vertical lug 19a on themachine-frame. (Not shown.)

20 is a spring normally elevating the inner end of the stop-lever 18into the path of the stop 2d.

21 is a vertically-moving releasing-pin located below the outer end ofthe stop-lever 18. The lower end of the releasing-pin 21 is in contactwith appropriate pattern mechanism which forces it at predeterminedintervals upward against the outer end of the stoplever 18, therebytilting the inner end of the latter downward against the action of thespring 2O out of engagement with the lug 2d. The pattern mechanism alsoat predetermined intervals so acts as to permit the pin 21 to descend,and the spring 2O again forces the inner end of the lever 18 upward intothe path of the lug 2".

22 is a cam mounted on a vertical pivot 22a on the base-ring 1. Thefunction of the cam 22 is to turn the cam-controlling ring 2 a shortdistance against the action of the spring 23, which normally acts toturn said ring 2 ashort distance in the opposite direction.

24 is an arm pivotally connecting the outer end of the cam 22 at 25 withappropriate pattern mechanism, which at predetermined intervals forcesthe cam 22 against the lug 2d on the ring 2 and turns it a shortdistance against the action of the spring 23. Also at predeterminedintervals the pattern mechanism permits the spring 23, by disengagingtherefrom the cam 22, to return the ring 2 to its normal position.

When it is desired to retire the long-heeled needles 0.2 from operationpreparatory to knitting the heel of a stocking, the -switch D2, being inthe longitudinal position shown in Figs. 7 and 9,-will be turneddownward until the outer and wider end of the groove D3 therein isbrought into linewith the heels a5 as they rest upon the ledge B, inwhich position its under walls D4 as the cam-cylinder is rotated engagesuch heels` a5 only1 and deflect them upward above the guide-plates B2B2, thereby carrying them, with their respective needles, out of action.The longheeled needles d2 having been thus returned, the intermediate-heeled and short-heeled needles d2 a' are left to knit a heel wider byten stitches and deeper by ten rows of stitches which will be describedhereinafter. After the heel has been knit by the intermediateheeled andshort-heeled needles a3 a the switch D2 will be turned upward and slidinward endwise to the position shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 10. Thereafter its upper walls D5 as the cam-cylinder isrotated engage the heels 0.6 of the long-heeled needles a2 and deflectthem downward onto the ledge B2, thereby leaving all the needles of themachine in proper position to knit the tubular portion of the foot ofthe stocking. When the tubular portion ot' the same is completed, theswitch D2, still being in the position shown in Fig. 8, will be turneddownward to the position shown by solid line in Fig. 10 until the outerand wider end of the groove D3 is brought into line with the heels a5 a6of the intermediate-heeled and long-heeled needles 0.3 a2 as they restupon v the ledge B, in which positionits upper walls D5 as thecam-cylinder is rotated engage such heels `a5 et@ only and deflect themupward above the guide-plates B2 B3, thereby carrying them, with theirneedles a2 a2, out of action. `The short-heeled needles a alone are thusleft in action, and the machine proceeds to knit the toe of a stocking,which will be narrower by ten inches and shallower by ten rows ofstitches than the heel to the knitting i of which reference is madeabove.

The general construction and mode of operation of the machine to which Ihave applied my improvements are the same as Ythose shown and describedin Letters Patent of the United States No. 461,358, granted to theSulloway Mills October 13, 1891, to which reference has already beenmade in the second paragraph of this application and to which referencemay be had therefor.

Fig. 1 shows the parts of the machine in position to knit the leg of astocking, the camsurfaces C2 C2 being beyond the reach of the studs c,the switch D2 being in the position shown in Fig. 8 and indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 10 and the shifting-cam DSin the position shown inFig. 2. Supposing the leg to be finished and that the machine is aboutto begin the knitting of a heel,the pattern mechanism, acting throughthe arm 24, disengages the cam 22 from the lug 2e and the spring 23turns the cam-controlling ring 2 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1,until the stop 2d thereon strikes the stop-lever 18. As the riug 2 isturned by the spring 23 the edge conformation of the cam 2a permits thecamsurface C3 to move inward into the path of the two studs c, which,acting through their latches C, release the needle-elevators B5, thespring 25 presses the 'downwardly-sloping cam 3 inward into the path ofthe actuatingstud D17 on the rack D15, and the lug 2f, acting on the cam8'on thearm 6, forces the cam 4 outward against the action of the spring26. Simultaneously with changes just described the pattern mechanismturns the rock-shaft IOO IlO

l5 in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. l, and forces the freeend of the arm 16 against the arm 11, thereby throwing the lug 10 intothe path of the lower end Y of the shifting-cam D18. As the cam-ring Bmakes its last rotation, ,traveling in the direction contrary to thattraveled by the hands of a watch, to knit the leg of the stocking, thelug D17 strikes the downwardly-inclined cam 3, which forces such lug andits rack D15 upward from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the positionshown in Fig. 9. Theupward movement of the rack D15, acting through thesemipinion D2, turns t-he switch D2 from the position shown in Fig. 8and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10 to the position shown by solidlines in Fig. 10. Immediately after the switch D2 has been turned downin the manner already indicated the lower end Y of the shifting-cam D1Sstrikes the lug l0, which rocks such cam D18 from the position shown inFig. S to that shown in Fig. 7, which rocking motion disengages theinclined cam-face D19 from and forces the inclined cam-face D21 intoengagement with the opposite walls D22 D23, respectively, of the grooveD13 in the screw-head D12, thereby sliding the switch endwise from theposition shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Figs. 7 and 9. Figs. 7 and 9show the switch D2 in proper position, with the broad end of the grooveD3 turned down to the ledge B, Fig. l0, for the cam-cylinder B2 tocontinue its operations. Fig. 8 shows the switch B2 turned upward, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10. Suppose now the switch D2 to beinall respects in the positions shown in Figs. 7 and 9 and that thecalnring B has begun to oscillate. At the end of the first completeoscillation of such camring B, the long-heeled needles a2 will have beendeflected, by the switch D2, above the guide-plates B2 B8, and out ofaction; but the intermediateheeled needles a2 and all but about themiddle thirty of the short-heeled needles d have gone up, out of action,to join the long-heeled needles a2, through the operation of theneedle-elevators B5, the releasing-pin 2l of the stop-lever 18, and theinner end of the same is thus depressed a corresponding distance, belowthe stop 21 against the action of the spring 20. The cam-controllingring 2, being thus left free to turn, is turned by the action of thespring 23 until it is stopped by the cam 22 coming in contact with thestop 2e. The movement of the camcontrolling ring 2 just describedpermits the the cam-surface C2 to swing inward into the path of the twostuds c, which, acting through their latches C, release theneedle-depressors B8, which depress into action the short-heeled andintermediate-heeled needles d a8, that went out of action when the firsthalf of the heel was being knit. The return of the lastmentioned needleshaving been completed, the heel will have been completed also. Thepattern mechanism, acting through the arm 24 and cam 22, then forces thecam-controlling ring 2, against the action ofthe spring 23A, into theposition shown in Fig. l, and all 'parts of the machine are therebyrestored to the positions there shown. As the cain-controlling ring 2turned to the last-mentioned position, the lug 21, engaging the cam 7 onthe arm 5, forced the downwardly-inclined cam 3 back against the actionof the spring 25 and out of the path of the lug D17 on the rack D15 andpassed down the cam 8 on the arm 6, the spring 26 forcing theupwardly-inclined cam 4 inward into the path of the lug D17 on the rackD15. As the last course of stitches on the heel was being knit,theupwardly-inclined cam 4 passed overthe lug D17on the rack D15 and forcedit down to the position shown in Fig. 2. The descent of the lug D17 andrack D15 also rocked the shifting-cam D18 to the position shown in Fig.2, thereby turning the switch D2 and sliding it inward endwise to thepositions shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l0. Whenthe camring B began to rotate, the switch D2 deflected the long-heeledneedles a2 down onto the ledge B, where the intermediate-heeled andshortsheeled needles d3 a4 had already gone through the operation of theneedle-depressors B8. The cam-ring B,continues to rotate until the roundpart of the foot of the stock ing is completed. rIhe machine then knitsthe toe of the stocking in precisely the same manner that it knitted theheel thereof, except that only the short-heeled needles c remain inaction and are employed to knit the toe. The arms 1l and 16 remain inthe positions shown in Fig. l during the knitting of the t-oe, therock-shaft l5, in fact, being operative only just before the machinebegins to knit the heel, and since the switchl D2 will remain in theendwise position shown in Fig. 8 until the lug l0 on the arm l1, actingthrough the shifting-cam D18, slides the switch D2 endwise outwardagain, and since the lug D17 on the rack D15 will pass over thedownwardlyinclined cam 3, which turns the switch D2 from the positionshown in Fig. 8 to the p0- sition shown in solid lines in Fig. 10, justbefore the machine begins to knit the toe of the stocking, obviously,the switch D2 being inV the positions just indicated, the longheeled andintermediate-heeled needles a2 a8 will be deflected by the groove D3therein up above the guide-plates B2 B3 and out of action, thus leavingonly the short-heeled needles a in action to knit the toe of thestocking.

Having described my invention and indicated of what it consists, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates of America, is

l. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a cam-cylinder, a needleelevating and depressing switch mounted, on the interior thereof, on arock-shaft adapted to be reciprocated endwise, and means forreciprocating such rock-shaft and switch endwise, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

2. In a knitting-machine, in combination,

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a cam-cylinder, a roekshaft adapted to be slid back and forth endwise ina bearing in the interior thereof, a needle elevating and depressingswitch mounted on the inner end of said rock-shaft and a switch-cam forslidingsaid rock-shaft and switch back and forth,

substantially asand for the purpose specified.

ward upon the guide-plates, leaving the in-4 termediate-heeled andshort-heeled needles to knit a wide and deep stocking-heel,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a cam-cylinder, needles havingheels of three dierent lengthsthe intermediate heeled needles beinglocated in two groups, between the group of long-heeled and the group ofshort-heeled needles-and aswitch consisting ot' a body provided in itsface with a tapering groove, the inner walls whereof are cut away toreduce their height, said cam having an endwise movement outward,whereby it is caused to deiiect thelong-heeled needles upward out ofaction, leaving the intermediateheeled and short-heeled needles inaction to the heel of a stocking, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

5. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a cam-cylinder, a rock-shaftadapted to be slid back and forth endwise in a bearing in the interiorthereof, a needle elevating and depressing switch mounted on the innerend of said rock-shaft, and a switch-cam for sliding said rock-shaft andswitch back and forth,

an d means for operating said switch-cam, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HOWARD E. I-IARBAUGH. Witnesses:

L. L. MORRISON, NELLiE BUNKER.

